The huge Artisan Cheese Festival is headed to Santa Rosa, and a look at its participating businesses list is enough to make anyone abandon a New Year's resolution to lose weight.

The 12th annual weekend, taking place at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa from March 23-25, includes an a la carte listing of individually priced events, both educational and epicurean, including seminars, cheese tastings and pairings, and off-site farm and creamery tours.

This year's fest also includes a "Best Bite Competition," which will be a tribute to first responders to the North Bay fires in October. Firefighters and other health and safety professionals will serve as judges as "two dozen cheesemakers, two dozen chefs and two dozen mongers" compete to create small-bite dishes accompanied by locally made cider, beer and wine.

The "grand finale" of the festival, taking place on the last day's afternoon, welcomes 115 cheese, wine, beer, cider, and sweet treat producers. Guests to the $50 event ($25 for kids 12 and under) will get to taste and sip their way through specialty culinary offerings from companies like Cowgirl Creamery, Nicasio Valley Cheese Co., Sonoma Coast Spirits, Black Pig Meat Co., Ace Cider, McEvoy Ranch, Sierra Nevada Brewing, and more.

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You’ll find this old-school cheese fondue, with intense, nutty Alpine cheeses, served near the fire at Swiss ski chalets.